Scranton man charged after hitting children with belt

A Scranton man faces charges after hitting children — including one under the age of 12 — with a belt, police said. Scranton police Detective Taylor Dunn responded to the 400 block of Breck Street on Thursday around 7:35 p.m.

to investigate an incident between two juveniles, according to a criminal complaint. While en route, Dunn learned Wellington Arias-Frias had assaulted a boy, police said. Arias-Frias (Courtesy Lackawanna County Central Processing) The boy suffered significant bruising to his arms, back and stomach area, and was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center for treatment, Dunn wrote in the criminal complaint.



A girl suffered significant bruising and redness to her left arm, left rib area and back, police said. She was also treated for her injuries at GCMC. After being struck by the belt multiple times Thursday, the boy jumped out of a window and ran to a nearby business to seek help, Dunn wrote in the criminal complaint.

During an interview at police headquarters, Arias-Frias admitted things got out of hand Thursday night due to an incident between the children, investigators said. He also admitted using a belt and said he should not have hit the children the way he did, police said. Police charged Arias-Frias, 30, with endangering the welfare of children and simple assault.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 17 at 11 a.m..